"6-8 Weeks of Hell(tm)" by Troy H. Cheek on Aug 04, 2008
Ever notice how many events in our life take six to eight weeks?
I recently bought an electronic item which had a mail-in rebate. Once the rebate was processed, I was notified that the rebate check would be mailed in 6-8 weeks. When it didn't show up, I contacted customer service. They assured me that a replacement check would be mailed in 6-8 weeks.
When I start a new magazine subscription, I'm usually told that the first issue will arrive in 6-8 weeks. This one, I can actually understand. Magazine content is usually produced a couple of months in advance. It's sent to the printers at least a month before the cover date with an order size big enough to cover existing subscriptions, pre-orders from vendors, and a few spares. One could hardly expect to send off a check in June and get the June issue, as at that time they'd probably already ordered the July printing. I've received June issues in the middle of April before.
Just down the road, there's a single lane bridge. It's not supposed to be a single lane bridge, mind you. It was reduced down to a single lane for resurfacing a few months ago. The process was, according to the papers, to take 6-8 weeks.
The bridge is interesting in other ways, as well. One sign tells me that this is a construction zone and to reduce my speed to 15 MPH. Within spitting distance, so to speak, is another which tells me to maintain 30 MPH while crossing the bridge. One sign tells me that a lane is closed ahead and that I need to change lanes now. However, it's immediately followed by a sign telling me that I should stay in my existing lane to extend the signal light. Said light has a sign that says the light will be red for a maximum of 3 minutes. Coming from the other side, the sign says that the light will be red for a maximum of 2 minutes.
Six or eight weeks after making a purchase with my medical spending account, I can expect a request to justify such spending. I'm called upon to provide evidence that such spending was actually for medical purposes. Actually, I can usually expect a request in a week or two, but the explaination of benefits from my insurance company which I can use to justify the spending doesn't arrive for 6-8 weeks. This is just about the same time I can expect the 2nd notice.
While the results of medical tests are no doubt available to my doctors within days or even hours, I usually don't hear them immediately. Instead, I'm told that such results are available, but that I must speak to the doctor. To speak to the doctor, I must make an appointment. The next available appointment will be in (drum roll, please) 6-8 weeks.
Would you believe one time we ordered new uniforms for our little league team, mine got accidentally sent to the wrong city, and the company actually had the nerve to act like 6-8 weeks was a reasonable length of time for them to take to fix their mistake? I think my Dad ended up driving halfway across the state just to pick up the uniform so I'd fit in. Ah, Dad, if only it were that easy for your son to fit in.
Waiting to hear back from the credit card application? I believe I read once that I would be notified in 6-8 weeks. This seemed strange to me, as the letter said that I was pre-approved. If I'm pre-approved, why do I need to fill out an application? If I'm pre-approved, why does it take 6-8 weeks to consider my application? If I'm pre-approved, why was I denied?
The last car insurance claim I filed took about 6-8 weeks to get resolved, if I remember correctly. Naturally, this was because my insurance company had to deal with their insurance company, which apparently requires a few weeks of negotiation. Had the incident only involved my own insurance company, I'm sure they could have found the time to deny my claim immediately.
I'm told that in the business world, it is not uncommon for a company to pay all their bills, or accounts payable, at one time. The bills are collected during a given month, then paid at the end of the following one. Plus 30, I think someone told me. Someone requesting a payment could reasonably expect a minimum wait of at least 4 weeks, an average of 6 weeks, and a maximum (hopefully) of 8 weeks. Of course, the persone explaining this to me also tried to tell me that Plus 60 was a perfectly legitimate business practice as well.
Do you have something you're tired of waiting for? Write in about it. If I find it interesting, I'll add it to this page.
In 6-8 weeks.
